Video from Pyongyang shows North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un looking dour as he attends the memorial service to mark the 10th anniversary of his father’s death.
As part of the national memorial, North Koreans have reportedly been banned from showing any sign of happiness. According to Radio Free Asia’s Korean service, restrictions include an explicit ban on laughter and alcohol during the 11-day period of mourning.
A North Korean citizen also told the news service that on the exact anniversary of Kim Jong-il’s death, 17 December, people had been banned from going grocery shopping.
• This video was amended on 21 December 2021 to clarify that the reports that laughing has been banned during the mourning period were based on quotes from a North Korean citizen carried by Radio Free Asia’s Korean service. The claims have not been independently verified.
Source: The Reuters
